Infinite Icon: Paris Hilton's second album comes 18 years after debut
US media personality Paris Hilton has kept fans of her music waiting for a long time: 18 years after her debut album "Paris" was released, the former it girl is bringing out her second album.
She's feeling ready to take over the world, the 43-year-old recenly wrote on her Facebook page ahead of the release of "Infinite Icon" on Friday (September 6).
The queen of self-promotion has been pulling out all the stops for her musical comeback, which she announced on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in October 2023. The cover art, which was revealed in July of this year, is anything but understated and depicts a Hilton posing on a podium between two pillars.
She is made to look like a goddess, with long, flowing hair and bathed in purple-gold light. When the cover of "Infinite Icon" was released, she explained to her fans that she had put her heart and soul into her second album for years.
A lot has happened in the hotel heiress' life since the release of "Stars Are Blind", the lead single for her debut album "Paris". The onetime party girl is now a mother of two. Three years ago she married entrepreneur Carter Reum, and their son Phoenix and daughter London were born via surrogacy in 2023.
Her "incredible journey through motherhood" inspired her to write a song with her friend, singer Sia. The track "Fame Won't Love You" is a reminder that the special bond with family is more valuable than anything else in the world, Hilton wrote on Instagram in April.
Collaborations with Sia and Meghan Trainor
"Fame Won't Love You" is one of 12 songs on Hilton's second album. Australian singer-songwriter Sia ("Chandelier"), who is the album's executive producer, also worked on the track "If the Earth Is Spinning". Sia brought something out of her, Hilton recently said in her podcast "I Am Paris".
On her first album she sang in a breathy, baby doll voice, while now she sings more powerfully. Pop singer and songwriter Meghan Trainor ("All About That Bass") confirmed to Hilton in a podcast interview that "Paris is belting" on this new album.
The two belt it out together on the song "Chasin'", which was written by Grammy winner Trainor and was released in July. "This song is a reminder to stop chasing after someone who never deserved you," Hilton explained on her social media.
With tempo, power and plenty of groove, the duo's song warns against toxic relationships and calls for the strength to break free from them. "She put into words an experience that was so true for me," Hilton said in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. "That time in your life when you find the confidence, power and self-love, to walk away from toxic relationships and move forward in life."
Lead single 'I'mFree' represents a 'journey of healing'
The first taste of Hilton's new music, a collaboration with Japanese-British singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama, was released back in June. Their song "I'm Free" also has a deep, personal meaning for Hilton. It was inspired by the 1997 single "Free" by American singer Ultra Naté, a song that changed Hilton's life.
"I heard it for the first time at a club in New York City shortly after being released from the Provo Canyon School where I experienced mental and physical abuse," Hilton told People magazine. Her song "represents the journey of healing and finding your voice." Together with Sawayama she hopes this version of the song will "inspire fans around the world to embrace their own strong voices."
In June of this year, Hilton testified to the US congress, calling for stricter rules in the fight against abuse in youth facilities. She described her own experience of abuse as a teenager. "These programmes promised healing, growth and support, but instead, did not allow me to speak, move freely or even look out a window for two years," the mother of two said. "I was force-fed medications and sexually abused by staff." Her parents knew nothing about any of this, Hilton continued.
For a long time, the name Paris Hilton stood for beauty, money and glamour. The wealthy great-granddaughter of hotel magnate Conrad Hilton, now appears to be all grown up. With "Infinite Icon", 18 years after the release of "Paris", she also wants to prove this musically.
